3. Receiver antennas

An antenna connected to a passive load and subjected to a radio wave creates an induced fem, giving rise to an induced voltage across the load. The appearance of the voltage is accompanied by active power dissipation in the load and, where applicable, reactive power exchange. If it is assumed that the load possesses the properties of a linear impedance, the analysis of the receiving antenna's operation can be undertaken using reciprocity rules. This interesting property is therefore adopted in this third paragraph, and an effort is made to transpose most of the reasoning developed in the analysis of transmission to the framework of receiving antennas.

This chapter is therefore subdivided into three parts: reciprocity rules, calculation of induced voltages and, finally, some ideas on antenna directivity.